Need Help Identifying

[Fishheadbarand]

I just noticed these boring sites and splatter on my shed. Can anyone help me ID the culprit? Link to pix below

http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/z...1322154563.jpg

Thanks,
Bob

[Shadeladie]

Hi there! Don't know for sure, but my shed has Carpenter Bees flying around and making holes. Could be the culprit.

[Gunguy45]

Carpenter bees (in my experience) normally leave a very round hole. Almost looks like something has exploded out of the hole....very odd. Maybe something was digging for what the bees leave?

[XSleeper]

Dunno about the holes, but the mud looks like barn swallows were trying to build a nest (unsuccessfully). If it's dirt (and washes off with a wet rag) you can bet that's what it is.

[Fishheadbarand]

The residue is dried and won't rub off switch water. I've seen othe carpenter bee holes but they didn't have the splatter.

[PAbugman]

It was started by carpenter bees-look on the inside of the fascia board and you may see the more-rounded holes that were there first. It appears that a wood-pecker blasted in from the front to get the bees/larvae. Carpenter bees do leave a residue/splatter which consists of pollen/fecal material/???etc. This does look like an unusual amount of residue and the barn/mud swallow suggestion is a good one. Did the residue and damage occur in one season or could this have been going on for some years? Carpenter bee residue is hard to wash off. The damaged wood should be replaced as it becomes more attractive to carpenter bees every year. Is it just that particular fascia board or are all getting drilled to some degree? If you wish to treat it, then use whatever type of sprayer, aero, duster, or combo etc will work for you in that situation and treat in the spring as long and often as you see activity. You will keep it from getting worse, but it takes an active approach to accomplish this, but then we are diy’ers.

[marksr]

Are the carpenter bees the same as the wood boring bees?

If they are, I had them bad until I bought a duster and treated each hole. I did that last year spring and fall] and haven't seen any this year

I don't remember the name of the powder that was recommended to use but it was too pricey for me so I used sevin dust.

[PAbugman]

Yes-carp bees and wood boring bees are the same. FWIW only the females drill the holes. They go in far enough to make a 90 degree turn and continue a channel. They lay an egg, pack in pollen, lay an egg, etc. until they are done. These are incubation chambers rather than nests, although the female will live in them while working/laying. Sevin is an outstanding material for bees, wasps, hornets, yellow jackets, etc. We don’t use Sevin (carbaryl) as we couldn’t use it anywhere else in structural pest control, but I often recommend it to diy’ers. As well as using the plain dust, you can make a slurry of it in a bucket of water and pour into ground nests. Much safer that gasoline and just as effective. Won’t hurt plants/grass. In the old days I remember making a paste out of it and spreading into and over the holes as a type of spackle. Haven’t tried that in years.

[chandler]

Just a little useless information.....the gestation period of the eggs she lays is reversed, so the newest one hatches first, then the rest in order.
The holes you see on the side of the fascia is from woodpeckers gaining access to the eggs, most likely. I have had clients with such damage, looks exactly like yours.

[Fishheadbarand]

Thanks all. The damage is this year. That just seems like a lot of splatter for an insect. But I'll press the I believe button if necessary.

Bob

[chandler]

The splatter is from two holes, probably near either a knot or a tight part of the wood. It is basically heart wood that is wet when she bores and it sticks to anything like honey. If you put it on your finger, I'll bet it smells like "Pine-Sol"....or bee poop , couldn't resist, sorry.